Dover Athletic manager Jake Leberl on depleted numbers ahead of hectic period and striker Rolando Onu’s substitute appearance in 1-1 draw with Horsham ahead of their weekend Chippenham Town trip

Manager Jake Leberl concedes Dover couldn’t have depleted numbers at a worse time ahead of a hectic period.

Overall, Whites have seven National League South fixtures scheduled in a three-week period, starting with Saturday’s trip to Chippenham.

Forwards Ruben Soares-Junior and Francis Mampolo missed their last-gasp 1-1 weekend home draw against Horsham through injury while right-back Roman Charles-Cook, who himself has been playing through a knock, was on international duty with Grenada.

Charles-Cook, 21, started in both a 2-0 weekend international friendly win against Cuba and last Wednesday’s 4-1 victory over the British Virgin Islands at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium.

While Leberl was pleased to see his squad players step up against the Hornets, he is having to cope with illness in the Crabble camp, too.

“It couldn’t have been a worse time to pick up a few injuries and a bit of illness,” said Leberl, whose Dover team will host Dorking on Tuesday.

“But what it does do is prove the lads that haven’t had much game-time, they can come in. We were just as strong on Saturday and it gives us a bit of confidence.

“All in all, as a club, we’re in a good place. But we just have loads of games coming thick and fast, and we’re going to need these boys back.

“We don’t really know how long they are going to be out for so there's interesting times ahead.

“But hopefully, we can get everyone back and have a really strong squad, going into the Christmas period.”

Defenders Henry Lukombo and Harrison Sodje, midfielder George Wilkinson and forwards Kenny Coker and Decarrey Sheriff all came into Whites’ starting line-up against Horsham as defenders Harry Beadle and Fuad Sesay, and top scorer George Nikaj, also dropped to the